Too Precious Episode 35 – 36

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 35

Salim had trained some farmers on business management. The farmers were interested in getting a lawyer to help with the company and co-operative registration. The farmers were at Ifo in Ogun state.

Salim approached PB and asked for her help. She agreed to speak with them and went with a team of lawyers. This was a new avenue of business and she was interested in knowing more about agriculture and its management.

She travelled with Treasure, her son, and Salim while her team came in her car. The other children were at Hope’s house for the weekend. Treasure had a cold and didn’t want to go with them. He clung to his mother.

They arrived there in time for the meeting. The meeting was held in Abeokuta. The hall was filled to the brim. There were more than five hundred people there. It was a surprise to PB. Salim said only representatives of groups were present; if everyone had come, the hall wouldn’t have contained them.

PB gave her speech and then asked her colleagues to speak in detail on certain topics. After the seminar, the farmers requested private consultation with her and her team. Salim led her to a table that had been prepared for the purpose.

“Hello,” PB heard someone say behind her. The voice sounded familiar but she couldn’t place it. She turned to see who it was; she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Biodun?” she asked and he smiled back at her. The person standing there looked better than the last time she saw him but he had aged.

“It’s me. It is so good to see you. I felt proud when I heard you speak to us. I was impressed at how much progress you have made.”

“Thank you. What are you doing here?”

“Well, life treated me unfairly. My wife left me with the three children. I couldn’t get a job; no help from anywhere. I suffered from the day you left until two years ago. A lawyer came to see me. He gave me a cheque of five million naira and advised me to use the money wisely. He said my sins have been forgiven. I was surprised. I cashed the cheque and I went into Agriculture. Being educated helped me in the business. I formed associations and helped farmers make money off their produce. I was the favourable middle man. We formed co-operatives and accessed loans. We are doing very well. I have acquired so much land now.”

“This is good to hear. How are your parents and siblings?”

“They are all fine. We are pushing each day. I heard about the demise of PY and your grandfather. I would have loved to attend his burial to pay my last respect but I was scared your family would be upset if they see us there.”

“We have gotten over the losses.”

“At least you have a child now. Francis told me you were pregnant and also informed me when you had the child. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. But I do have a question for you. I keep wondering why I never got pregnant for you when we were married but I was able to conceive after one s€×ual act. I thought I was infertile but then, how come I was able to conceive?”

“Precious, please let bygones be bygones. Forgive me for everything I did to you. My mother always took your side. When my wife left, my mother ill-treated me. She told me you would never have left me because I was down. I rented a small apartment to live in while my children remained with my parents. Their mother is aware I am doing better now and wants to come back; I have refused. I understand better why you didn’t forgive me. Betrayal is the deepest cut. I had a taste of my own medicine.”

PB smiled as he spoke. She decided not to probe further; truly he experienced the hurt he put her through. She wished him the best and went on her merry way hoping their paths never cross again.

Allen called PB very late one night. He had just received news his father was unconscious in the village.

“I don’t know how to feel. What if he dies?” Allen asked. There was silence for a little while then he said, “Hello. Are you there?”

“I have booked your flight to Enugu. Arrange for a driver to pick you from the airport. Has he been taken to the hospital? Call any of your relatives to take charge before you arrive. Have you told your mother?”

“I don’t want to worry her.”

“Good. Let her know when you have assessed the situation. Get to work. Call me if anything changes.”

“Thank you. I will call you back.”

Sleep had eluded PB. Death seemed to be having a good time in their lives. Why were people falling sick and dying? Especially people close to her. Engineer Collins Okoli wasn’t someone she would call a friend but he was PY and Allen’s father and Treasure’s grandfather. He was family.

She couldn’t sleep anymore. She stood up and walked to her grandfather’s room. She hadn’t moved in there yet. She was gradually clearing out his belongings; it was a painful experience each time.

She remembered the last conversation she had with her grandfather. They talked about the revelation. She had avoided talking about it because she knew his condition. She had struggled with the fact she lived with her father all these years and never knew. He played the role perfectly even though he thought she was his granddaughter.

He had told her how glad he was when he found out she was his child. His two girls had good heads on their shoulders. Chief claimed his love for her from inception was never misplaced. She was like him; she was his carbon copy. He knew she would excel.

He also told her, a few days before he died, to do whatever she was convinced to do regardless of what society or people would say. He encouraged her. “You have become complacent; you have no zeal to expand and be very rich. You have the potential but you are more focused on the children. Have one more child, preferably a female. Build a dynasty and let your generations take it from there. Teach them how to be successful from the beginning. Especially my namesake. You are strong enough to achieve anything you set out to do.”

He also appealed to her to love Titi as she had always done. “She is a good woman. Another child will distract her from all that is happening. Let them call her great grandma as they do now. Don’t alter anything. I want her to live a long and fulfilled life.”

She had obeyed everything he had said except for having another child. Salim had talked to her about a relationsh¡p but she didn’t want to mix business with pleasure; that was the excuse she gave. In honesty, she didn’t want to date a younger guy and appear desperate. Her other consideration was having two children from different fathers. She wasn’t comfortable with that. She convinced herself she would raise Treasure to be like her father.

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 36

Allen called her while she was still deep in thoughts.

“He is stable now. I need to bring him back to Lagos to receive proper care. Can you arrange an ambulance to pick him up from the airport? I will text you the hospital and the address. I have spoken with the doctor already. I need your help please.”

“Not a problem. What about the flight tickets? Is any medical personnel travelling with you?”

“His nurse leaves him alone in the house during the day and some nights. She is coming back with me. Once we land, I will fire her and sue her. I sent my cousin to the airport to book tickets for us”

“Ok. You’ve not still told your mother?”

“I haven’t. I will tell her when he is in Lagos.”

“What of Olivia?”

“Forget about Olivia for now; she is busy. Just do this for me.”

They arrived many hours later. Allen informed PB when he got to the hospital. “I am famished; I haven’t eaten anything all day. I need to rest my head somewhere.”

“Let me order food to be delivered to you. I asked you where Olivia is. Her business is close to the hospital, she should be there with you.”

“I sent her a message this morning about what had happened. I informed her I was travelling. She read it and wished me a safe trip. No phone call. She wasn’t worried about my father. She never called me until we arrived at the airport this evening. She said she was checking up on me. I told her I was back in Lagos. I asked her to hold on while I talked to the ambulance driver on my other line. She asked me why I needed the ambulance, I told her I brought my father back to Lagos. She said wasn’t it a waste of money bringing him here. I couldn’t believe her. I asked if that was the reason she didn’t call me all day. Was she expecting my call to announce the death of my father? I hung up. Precious, what do I make of this?”

“I have told you before, Olivia has changed and there must be a reason why. I suspect your father must have said something to her that offended her. Are you sure you didn’t offend her? Does she know about your escapades?”

“Something I have dropped since you spoke to me about it. I have to agree with you this time; I suspect my father must have said or done something to her. But why wouldn’t she tell me?”

“I don’t know. Your food will arrive soon. If there are any changes and you need me, call me. If not, I will be with you tomorrow morning.”

“Thanks, Precious. You are an awesome friend.”

“You are welcome.”

Engineer Collins Okoli was discharged from the hospital. His wife was informed of his illness. She hired a new home nurse to carter for him at home. She checked on her husband three times a day; when she wakes up, during lunch and before she sleeps. Collins was bored and depressed. His son, Allen, worked until very late at night.

As he made full recovery, he insisted on going back to the village. Allen refused. He told his father he had a bad feeling about it. “Stay with your family; we will ensure you are fine always.”

“I have to go back. I receive visitors every day in the village. I am never alone except when I retire at night. Here, I don’t talk to anyone. Your mother has refused to send her lover away. She just pops in to see if I am dead or alive. I’m sure she can’t wait to bury me.”

“Do whatever suits you. You have to bear the cost of your medical care because you are making it difficult to care for you. A doctor has to see you at least once a week and you must have professional nurses working with you day and night. Here, it can be closely monitored by mother but since you believe she wants you dead, handle it yourself.”

Engineer Collins was stunned at his son’s comment. He couldn’t believe Allen brushed him off like that. “Bia nwoke (come young man), I can take care of myself but are you taking care of yourself? You are busy following that Yoruba girl who has no respect for elders and can’t see what is before you. When will you get married? What are you waiting for? Take Adaeze back and build a family with one of your baby mamas.”

“Why Adaeze? She left me and our daughter. Why should I be with someone who didn’t find me worthy to be with while I struggled to make it? Why Adaeze, why not Precious? She is a great mother and a good person. How can I choose Adaeze over Precious? I’m not marrying either of them, I am marrying Olivia.”

“Which Olivia? What do you know about her? I have her dossier; she is not worth being called your wife. If you know what I know, you will never speak with her again. She wants to marry a successful husband to rebuild her self image. She knows she can’t succeed; I will expose her to the world for whom she truly is.”

“So you are behind the sudden change in Olivia. I am not interested in her past but focused on our future. You have a horrible past; I didn’t judge you for being a lousy, selfish, and inconsiderate father. I forgave your past misdeeds and moved on. Your wife didn’t and hasn’t. What Olivia did can not be worse than what you did to your wife and children. You destroyed our lives.”

Engineer Collins was speechless. Allen had been vocal but today, he was downright condescending. He sounded like he didn’t care anymore and it scared his father. It will be a disaster not to have Allen on his side. Olivia was no good for him as far as Collins was concerned. She was worthless. He knew her at Bonny and recognized her when Allen introduced her as the girl he wanted to marry. How would he marry someone his father and his friends had orgies with repeatedly? Allen wasn’t interested in her past. Well, Collins had promised Olivia he would invite all her former lovers to the wedding to share their wonderful tales if she dared go ahead with the marriage.

Allen was very convinced his father had threatened Olivia. He decided to see her and have a discussion with her. When they met, Allen asked her why she didn’t tell him his father had threatened her.

“What did he tell you?” Olivia asked looking apprehensive.

“I didn’t allow him to tell me anything. I didn’t care about your past; you should have come to me with the threat.”

“And tell you what? I am innocent? Allen, you are a good guy but your father is an evil genius. I don’t want to be associated with someone like him. Let me be. I thought we could get married and live quiet lives with your two children, but it wasn’t meant to be. Your father is threatening me on one hand and on the other, your ex is trying to make my life a living hell. I am tired of being afraid. I am tired of waking up and being scared out of my wits if today is the day I will be exposed. I can’t continue to live in fear; Allen, I can’t marry.”

“What nonsense are talking about? How did my father threaten you? What has Adaeze done to you? Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you say anything? I would have fought for us.”

“What did you want me to tell you? I had a past and I made something out of it but your father wouldn’t let me be since I met him. He is a disgusting human being; I can’t believe he birthed someone like you. And your Adaeze has assured me she wouldn’t allow any other woman to be with you. I have told her she can’t say that since she didn’t have the first son. It doesn’t matter to her; she says she will have the second son and you. She is adamant. She claims both of you have been intimate; I don’t know how true that is.”

“I haven’t been intimate with her; she was just trying to get at you. You fell for her antics, you shouldn’t have. If you had drawn my attention to it, I would have stopped her from coming around completely.”

“She doesn’t fear you; she will continue. The only person I believe she can’t try this with is Precious. She says negative things about her which makes me believe she feels threatened by her presence in your life. I don’t feel threatened at all. But, if Adaeze pinpoints her as a threat, then she is a threat.”

“Precious is the reason I found out you were being threatened. She told me your attitude towards me had changed. Babes, you fought for us to be together and when we set a date, you pushed me aside giving me unrealistic rules. I didn’t know what was happening. Why didn’t you trust me enough to share with me? What is the worst thing you did? Did you sleep with older men? And so what? There is nothing new about that. Don’t bother yourself; I’ve got this.”

“Precious is in love with you.” Allen looked at her shocked. Olivia continued “I can’t believe you didn’t know. She always looks out for your well-being. You do the same for her. You stood by her as a husband when her grandfather died; I felt like the outsider. I don’t mind your closeness with her, she is a nice person and doesn’t disrespect me. I prefer for Adaeze and your father to threaten her for her to deal with them than for me to get into any trouble. I have built this name and reputation to this point; I can’t afford to allow love to tarnish it for me. I am sorry Allen, I can’t continue with this relationsh¡p.”

Allen was shocked at all the revelations. He had to focus on the threats first. He needed to clip some wings. How dare Adaeze threaten Olivia? He had to put her where she belonged.

Tbc